Share this @internewscast.com

Gabby Douglas, who was expected to make her return to competitive gymnastics on Saturday at the Winter Cup, announced her withdrawal from the event due to a positive Covid test.

“I was so excited to get back out on the competition floor, but unfortunately, I just tested positive for covid… I’m crushed but I’ll see you guys soon!,” Douglas said in an Instagram post on Thursday afternoon.

She was slated to compete in three of the four events on Saturday — vault, balance beam, and floor exercise — and would have faced reigning Olympic all-around champion, Sunisa Lee, in senior competition for the first time. Lee, who has been battling a kidney-related illness for the past year, is still registered for the event in Louisville, Kentucky, and plans to compete on uneven bars and beam.

Douglas announced her intention to return to competitive gymnastics at the Winter Cup on “Hallie Jackson NOW,” earlier this month.

“I didn’t want to end this sport how I did in 2016. I wanted to take a step back and work on my mental state,” she said in the interview. “I love gymnastics and love pushing myself. … I never wanted to walk away on a bad day.”

Douglas has not competed since the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, where she was part of the second consecutive team gold medal for the U.S. women’s team. The team win in Rio garnered Douglas her third Olympic gold medal after she won two golds at the 2012 Olympics in London: team gold and all-around gold. Douglas’ all-around title made her the first Black gymnast to win the Olympic all-around gold medal.

Douglas never made an official retirement announcement after the Rio Olympics, but she did not attempt a comeback for the Tokyo games. At 28, she would have been the oldest gymnast in the competition at the Winter Cup.

If she is named to the Paris Olympic team, Douglas will be the first American woman since Dominique Dawes to make three Olympic teams. Her 2016 teammate, Simone Biles, is eyeing her third team as well.

The next major domestic competition on the road to Paris qualification is the Core Hydration Classic, which will be held in Hartford, Connecticut, on May 17 and 18.

Both the women’s and the men’s Olympic teams will be selected at the Olympic Trials this summer, which are scheduled for the end of June in Minneapolis. The gymnasts competing at the Olympic Trials will be determined four weeks earlier at the U.S. Championships in Fort Worth, Texas.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Houston airport travelers reveal who they blame for TSA lines

Travelers Point Fingers: Who’s Really to Blame for Houston Airport’s TSA Delays?

Travelers expressed frustration with both political parties as they faced the daunting…
Kamala husband Doug Emhoff with celebrities at 'No Kings' Malibu

Kamala Harris’s Husband Doug Emhoff Joins Celebrities at ‘No Kings’ Event in Malibu

Doug Emhoff, husband to Vice President Kamala Harris, was spotted mingling with…
Bikini-clad swimmer breaks silence after death-defying rescue from San Francisco cliff

Breathtaking Rescue: Bikini-Clad Swimmer’s Harrowing Cliff Escape in San Francisco

An adventurous swimmer, who found herself in a precarious situation on the…
'We've got to stand up': No Kings protest marches through downtown Jacksonville

Empowering Voices: ‘No Kings’ Protesters Rally in Downtown Jacksonville for Change

Amid a sea of placards and resonating chants, demonstrators made their way…
Pentagon preparing for weeks of ground operations in Iran: report

Pentagon Strategizes Extended Ground Operations in Iran: Report Reveals Weeks-Long Military Preparation

According to a recent report, the Pentagon is gearing up for an…
Zelenskyy offers cutting-edge drone defense to Gulf allies as Ukraine seeks missile support

Zelenskyy Unveils Advanced Drone Defense to Gulf Nations Amid Quest for Missile Aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is leveraging battlefield innovation to strengthen international alliances,…
’90 Day Fiance’ alum’s boyfriend beats Boca Bash attempted murder case he rips as ‘ridiculous’

’90 Day Fiance’ Star’s Boyfriend Acquitted in Boca Bash Attempted Murder Case, Calls Charges ‘Ridiculous’

In a dramatic turn of events, a Florida man has walked free…
'Flying Rodent' photo of lynx wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year award

Majestic Lynx Captures the Crown: ‘Flying Rodent’ Photo Wins Wildlife Photographer of the Year!

Their jaws dropped in awe. A breathtaking image of a lynx engaging…
Russian drone strikes destroy Ukraine maternity hospital full of newborns: 'This was pure terror'

Russian Drone Attacks Devastate Ukrainian Maternity Hospital, Leaving Newborns in Peril: ‘A Scene of Pure Terror

In a devastating overnight assault, Russian drone attacks instilled “sheer terror” across…
North Korean dictator says government will keep cementing nation's 'irreversible status as a nuclear power'

North Korea’s Bold Nuclear Pledge: Kim Jong-un Vows to Solidify Irreversible Power Status

In a recent announcement, North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un emphasized his…
Executed killer’s chilling claim about what she felt during pickax murders still haunts retired FBI agent

Retired FBI Agent Still Haunted by Murderer’s Eerie Confession During Pickax Killings

Karla Faye Tucker, infamous for the brutal murder of two individuals with…
Southwest pilot aborts Hollywood Burbank landing because runway 'wasn't quite clear': report

Swift Action by Southwest Pilot: Hollywood Burbank Landing Aborted Due to Unclear Runway Conditions

A Southwest Airlines pilot was captured on video explaining to passengers why…